Abalone are highly prized marine gastropods farmed intensively in tanks and sea cages. Questions about their capacity for pain and suffering are increasingly relevant as welfare science extends to invertebrates.
The moral status of abalone as sentient beings remains scientifically uncertain, but the precautionary principle suggests welfare considerations are relevant. Key welfare concerns in abalone farming include high stocking densities that restrict movement and increase disease transmission, poor water quality leading to physiological stress, and disease outbreaks causing mass mortality and suffering. Best-practice facilities maintain optimal water quality, appropriate densities, and biosecurity protocols. As invertebrate welfare science advances, standards for abalone management are likely to become more formalised. Consumer awareness drives demand for responsibly farmed products.